Cord-tightening device.



A. G. SOISTMANN.

GORD TIGHTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 4, 1910,

Patented July 30, 1912.

UNITE ADOLPH s. SOISTMANN, oi CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

CQRD-TIGT-ITEXING DEVICE.

Specification of letters Patent. Application filed March 4, 1910.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Aoonrl-r G. Sorsr- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Cord-Tightening Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cord tightening means for musical instru ments.

-The object is to provide means for increasing or facilitating the tightening of the cord or string portions, and for disengageably locking the tightening device or devices in any desired position of adjustment so that the said tightening device or devices will not accidentally slip or become loose.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to a drum ear.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drum employing my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of my drum ear in the operative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the drum ear. Fig. at is a central horizontal section through the cord portions and the tightening body in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The ear shown in the drawings is, in gen eral respects, of the usual form, comprising the metal part or loop 5, open on the underside, as at 6, and providing the ways 7, for the two normally divergent portions of the cord 8. To the metal part 5 is secured the ear 9 for manual operation. To the metal part 5 is also pivotally secured the arm 10, being bent so as to bring the shank or eX tension 11 out of the plane of the main eX- tension 10, but horizontal therewith, and in line with the plane of the ways 7 On this shank or extension 11 is mounted the body 12, preferably provided with the lateral channels 13. This body 12 may be made of rubber or leather or any suitable substance preferably having a slightly yielding charaeter, so that the same shall have more eflicient engagement with the cords, which are adapted to lie in the channels 13. By pulling the loop or slidable tightening memher 5 down in the direction of the diverging portions of cord 8, the cord is tightened in a well known manner. When the member 5 has been brought into the tightening position,

arm 10 is rocked toward the cord portions and body 12 is pressed into position therebetween as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, there- .by spreading the cord portions slightly ifarther apart than they are held in the ways 7 of member 5. As body 12 is out of contact with cord port-ions 8 during the downward or tightening movement of member 5 along said cord portions, it will be clear that member 5 will be drawn farther along the cord portions than if body 12 were in contact therewith during the drawing operation. The tightening of the cords is thus increased and facilitated. Further, the combined effect of this spreading of the cord portions, and also of the friction between the body 12 and the said portions of cord 8, efiectually prevents the accidental slipping of member 5 to loosen the cord. "When it is desired to move member 5 arbitrarily the body 12 is pulled out from between the cord portions and the member 5 can then be moved in either direction.

it will be understood that by the substitution of the claims herein for certain claims previously allowed, I have been guided solely by a desire properly to claim my invention in a clear and concise manner, but 1 do not intend thereby to limit the scope of my invention.

That I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, a slidable tightening member and an independently movable cord-spreading body connected therewith, said spreading body being of greater width than the distance between adjacent tightened cord portions at the point of application of the spreading body thereto.

2. In a device of the character described, a slidable tightening member normally in constant engagement with adjacent cord portions, and a cord spreading body connected with the tightening member and adapted to be moved, relatively thereto, into spreading engagement with said cord portions, whereby after the tightening of the cord portions by the slidable tightening member they may be spread and further tightened by the independent operation of the spreading body,

3. A drum ear provided with a cordspreading body of greater width than the distance between adjacent tightened portions of the drum cord at. the point of application of the spreading body thereto,

said spreading body being capable of rela tive movement with respect-to the ear portion of the device and adapted to be moved from without the vertical plane of the cord portions to a position between the same and within said vertical plane, whereby after the tightening movement of the ear along the cord portions the spreading body may be operated to spread and further tighten the same.

i. A drum ear having an arm pivotally connected therewith and a cord-spreading body of yielding material carried by the arm and adapted to be moved, relatively to the ear portion of the device, between tightened portions of the drum cord to spread the same to the rear of said ear portion.

5. A drum ear adapted to be drawn along normally diverging cord portions and having a relatively movable arm provided with a cord-spreading body for spreading the substantially parallel portions of the drum cord above the ear portion of the device.

ADOLPI-I Gr. SOISTMANN.

Witnesses MAE HOFMANN, HOWARD S. OKIE- Conies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

